News In Salem

Salem Police Chief, Jeff Dudley, is pleased to announce that five new officers have joined the department. Monday morning, the new officers took part in a swearing-in ceremony at the Public Safety Building on Calhoun Street.

Paul Hammond is a Salem resident and 2009 graduate of Salem High School. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Averett University in 2012. Growing up, Paul spent five years in the department’s Explorer program.

Ethan Wells is a Salem resident and he also is a 2009 graduate of Salem High School. Wells attended Virginia Western Community College for two years before earning his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Radford University in 2013.

David Ratliff is a Roanoke resident who attended Bassett High School and Patrick Henry Community College. David comes to the Salem Police Department from the Western Virginia Regional Jail where he has been working as a corrections officer for three years.

Brandon Fretwell is a Bassett native who graduated from Bassett High School and Patrick Henry Community College where he obtained an Associate’s Degree in general education. Fretwell then earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University in 2013.

Spencer St.Cry is a Roanoke resident who graduated from Hidden Valley High School in 2011. He has attended Virginia Western Community College and Radford University.

All of the officers will start 18 weeks of basic law enforcement training at Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy on January 13. Once those lessons have been learned they will return to the Salem Police Department for an additional 12 weeks of field training.